What to Expect in the Third Generation MacBook

[Mac 128]

MBO without TouchBar has only two ports. I really doubt they will do the same with rMB. I can dream it, but I really can't see it. Tough I hope I am wrong about this...



They would have done that already... Having lightning on iP7, and 3.5mm on macbooks is dumb as it gets

Why would they have done that already?

And I don't agree about keeping 3.5mm on MBP for now, as the total number of MacBooks sold in a year is less than 10% of the number of iPhones sold, and not strictly to iPhone customers. I am perplexed that they wouldn't add Lightning, especially since there are no adapters otherwise to allow Lightning headphones to be used on a Mac. But, the number of people who need Lightning on a Mac currently are likely pretty small. And frankly with all of Apples other problems -- they can't even get essential W1 chipped headphones to market within a month of launching the device that depends on them -- I'm not surprised they've held off on adding Lightning to the MacBook, which would certainly come with a host of its own issues that need to be worked out in the field. Get TB3 and TouchBar worked out first and maybe start adding Lightning mid-cycle with the rMB.

 

[oneMadRssn]

MBO without TouchBar has only two ports. I really doubt they will do the same with rMB. I can dream it, but I really can't see it. Tough I hope I am wrong about this...

Perhaps someone that has studied the Intel CPU spec sheets can chime in, but I thought this was largely a limitation of the controller on the CPU, which dictates how many and what type of i/o ports are supported without the need for an additional external controller chip. I am under the impression that the reason the non-touchbar MBP has two ports is because the lower-watt CPUs of that model don't support 4 ports natively. Likewise, the reason the rMB has only one port is because that is all the Core-M CPUs support.

 

[MacOG728893]

The jet black looks like a cheap plastic. I couldn't see a difference between iP7 and my 20 cent lighter...

Do you own one or just picked one up in the stores for a bit?

I own one and love it.

 

[Keniutek]

^ wife uses the jet black 7 plus. Still not impressed, not enough to take it from her ;-).

 

[MacOG728893]

^ wife uses the jet black 7 plus. Still not impressed, not enough to take it from her ;-).

As long as you love what you have, that's all that really matters.

I think the Toyota Prius is one the most hideous cars on the road, however, so many people love them.

 

[Trajan81]

What is everyones thoughts on the next 12" rMB having the Touch Bar? I know as of today it may not make sense based on their MacBook lineup, with the 13" Pro without Touch Bar placed as a midway device between the more expensive Pros.

With that said, I can't help but think the Touch Bar is something Apple will eventually want included across their entire Mac lineup. I know Gruber has been on twitter speculating that the Magic Keyboard could see the Touch Bar added for use with desktop Macs early next year.

 

[Frederik on MacRumors]

After Thursday, I would really like to see a 14" MacBook. I don't need a touch bar for double the price I payed for my mid 2009 MacBook Pro...

The only thing I really liked about the new pro is the large trackpad and the 15"...

 

[Fernandez21]

After Thursday, I would really like to see a 14" MacBook. I don't need a touch bar for double the price I payed for my mid 2009 MacBook Pro...

The only thing I really liked about the new pro is the large trackpad and the 15"...

Yeah, ,it would make sense. have a 12" and 14" MacBook to replace the airs, along with updated 13" and 15" pros for the high end. The 13" pro without touch bar was a confusing choice.

 

[Precursor]

What is everyones thoughts on the next 12" rMB having the Touch Bar?

I don't think that's ever gonna happen. As older generation MBP phases out, 12" MB will be the new entry point laptop, of course without any price drop.

 

[Mac 128]

I don't think that's ever gonna happen. As older generation MBP phases out, 12" MB will be the new entry point laptop, of course without any price drop.

Of course there will be a price drop. That's the reason the MBA was likely left in the lineup, to give the rMB time to depreciate.

Assuming the Touch Bar will always be perceived as a Pro device, Touch ID certainly is not, and especially as a consumer device the rMB will get Touch ID as soon as possible. Eventually, the rMB might get the TouchBar as the older model gets the price drop. In fact that's a good reason to do that and eliminate the MBA at the same time. It will also be the last MacBook to have a headphone jack as Apple removes them from all new MacBooks in the next major update.

 

[kiranmk2]

I was very surprised the bottom end 13" MBP didn't at leat get TouchID and for this reason I wouldn't expect the next rMB to have it either (very annoying!)

 

[Frederik on MacRumors]

I was very surprised the bottom end 13" MBP didn't at leat get TouchID and for this reason I wouldn't expect the next rMB to have it either (very annoying!)

Well... I want a MacBook that is as cheap as possible but still offers a Retina display and at least 14". The touch bar would increase the price unnecessarily... The MacBook Pro price is just ridiculous...

 

[semihat]

when does the kaby lake cpu for the next MacBook iteration get released? i am interested in getting the next version of this machine. thanks

 

[kiranmk2]

They are already out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaby_Lake#Mobile_processors

All the models listed in that Wikipedia link as having a TDP of 4.5 W are the ones that will find their way into the next rMB.

 

[Peasant90]

They are already out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaby_Lake#Mobile_processors

All the models listed in that Wikipedia link as having a TDP of 4.5 W are the ones that will find their way into the next rMB.

I'd rather they wait and do a refresh next fall with cannonlake,the 10nm should offer a noticeable improvement in performance plus the fact they are able to use 10% more energy than previous core M's (4.5w vs 5.2w)

 

[RaveHole]

They are already out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaby_Lake#Mobile_processors

All the models listed in that Wikipedia link as having a TDP of 4.5 W are the ones that will find their way into the next rMB.

And we have yet another minor change in Intels naming scheme. Only the entry level m3 has the "m" prefix. The mid and high end are called i5 and i7, even though they are Y-class 4.5 W parts.

 

[Frederik on MacRumors]

And we have yet another minor change in Intels naming scheme. Only the entry level m3 has the "m" prefix. The mid and high end are called i5 and i7, even though they are Y-class 4.5 W parts.

Yep... I grind my teeth every time I see it...

I can't imagine that renaming something creates so much more revenue... either, customers have no clue about it (hence, the nameing is irrelevant) or they know, which means the renaming has no effect... this only hampers clarity...

 

[Ma2k5]

For them to add TouchID they will need to add the new processor - now this omission in the non-touch bar rMB 13" is likely due to be for cost. However, the 12" being quite a pricey laptop, could get this inclusio.

With the new improved screen delivering 30% less power usage, they may even reduce the battery size a bit to add these touch ID component - or who know's, perhaps the whole OLED strip itself - but that is wishful thinking.

 

[kiranmk2]

It's looking like the Kaby Lake update is going to be feature let-down. As the 1st post in this thread makes clear, USB 3.1 gen 2, a second USB-C port and Thunderbolt 3 probably wont be there (as they still need a separate chip); LPDDR4 won't be available and the graphics, although faster, will still not have the eDRAM found in GT3 systems; TouchID likewise probably won't appear due the extra ARM-based chip that's needed (although this would be a great bonis). The only thing I think Apple could do is introduce the 2nd gen butterfly keyboard and update the screen to the lower power, higher gamut type found in the new MBP. This makes me think there will be a price cut - hopefully to $999, but probably just to $1099.

 

[Mac 128]

It's looking like the Kaby Lake update is going to be feature let-down. As the 1st post in this thread makes clear, USB 3.1 gen 2, a second USB-C port and Thunderbolt 3 probably wont be there (as they still need a separate chip); LPDDR4 won't be available and the graphics, although faster, will still not have the eDRAM found in GT3 systems; TouchID likewise probably won't appear due the extra ARM-based chip that's needed (although this would be a great bonis). The only thing I think Apple could do is introduce the 2nd gen butterfly keyboard and update the screen to the lower power, higher gamut type found in the new MBP. This makes me think there will be a price cut - hopefully to $999, but probably just to $1099.

They could offer Pencil support to the trackpad and Lightning compatibility, for use not only with Lightning headphones, but also Lightning accessories, adapters and dongles. That would be an incredibly progressive move toward pushing the MBP toward future iOS integration.

 

[Yr Blues]

I'm going to hold onto my $ for the next 12".

inevitable butterfly 2.0

possible OLED
possible Thunderbolt USB-C on both sides
possible Touch ID

 

[Uni Grad]

I'm going to hold onto my $ for the next 12".

inevitable butterfly 2.0

possible OLED
possible Thunderbolt USB-C on both sides
possible Touch ID

2.0 is guaranteed.
OLED Touchbar or rumored OLED Display panel? I would say that an OLED panel is more likely than the touchbar. I think we might only get one TB3 (updating the current USBC to TB3 controllers that come with Kabylake), and Touch ID tbh should be on every apple device now, not the touchbar, but touch Id yes.

If the above happens, along with a generous price cut, I will drop my hopes for the Pro, and just accept the m7 MacBook, although far less powerful, yet still capable.

 

[Yr Blues]

2.0 is guaranteed.
OLED Touchbar or rumored OLED Display panel? I would say that an OLED panel is more likely than the touchbar. I think we might only get one TB3 (updating the current USBC to TB3 controllers that come with Kabylake), and Touch ID tbh should be on every apple device now, not the touchbar, but touch Id yes.

If the above happens, along with a generous price cut, I will drop my hopes for the Pro, and just accept the m7 MacBook, although far less powerful, yet still capable.

The only way they'll give us 2 USB-C ports is if they … wait for it … take away the 3.5mm port. I bet they would. I would rather they give us an Express port and 1 USB-C just for us to do what we want.

 

[Mac 128]

The only way they'll give us 2 USB-C ports is if they … wait for it … take away the 3.5mm port. I bet they would. I would rather they give us an Express port and 1 USB-C just for us to do what we want.

They definitely will at some point.

But I'm still betting on it being Lightning initially. I think we would have seen it now, except I don't think they're not ready to introduce Lightning to the Mac yet, which may explain why we have Lightning EarPods that come with the jack less iPhone 7 and no way to use them on a Mac. That might also really explain the inclusion of the 3.5mm adapter, as Apple knows there's not going to be a way to connect Lightning headphones to anything else, anytime soon, so customers who don't switch to Bluetooth for cross-platform connectivity will be forced to use their old headphones.

 

[Uni Grad]

I demand a 13/14" rMB, and not a MacBook Pro without function keys, because I love the comfortable slanted form factor. All they need to do is take the current MacBook Pro w/ fn keys and slant it, keep the same ports, same processor, keep the same butterfly mechanism, trackpad size. Maybe throw in an OLED Display.

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